A VIDEO telling the story of how miners dug for victory on the Western Front in the First World War has been released.

Thousands of North-East colliery men volunteered to fight the Germans in Flanders but some served their country on the front line using their civvy street skills.

They were employed to tunnel under enemy lines and plant massive amounts of explosives to blow up German positions.

This little-known aspect of the Great War, touched on in the award-winning novel Birdsong, is brought to light in a video, called Miners at War, made by Puddle Productions, of West Rainton, near Durham City.

About 28,000 miners were recruited to dig the tunnels as well as underground barracks and hospitals.

John Mason and Hilary St John have spent two years researching and producing the latest film.

Mr Mason said: "People know about the major battles, but I thought it was a story that people did not know a lot about.''

Miners from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Wales and, of course, the North-East, were among those who answered the call for aid.

While soldiers who served above ground would earn a shilling a day, tunnellers could earn six shillings.

The miners tunnelled under German positions at Messines Ridge, overlooking Ypres, and laid 21 mines, 19 of which went off.

"The bang from Messines Ridge was so loud it was heard in Downing Street and Dublin,'' said Ms St John.

Puddle Productions has already produced two videos, Brass and Banners and Brass and Banners 2001, based around the Durham Miners Gala, which have been popular around the world.

Miners at War is available from shops and Tourist Information Centres in Durham, Peterlee and Sunderland, or from Puddle Productions, PO Box 90, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 5XS.